Device for exhibiting bags and other articles



Nw.-26,1957A BARBIER l2,814,390

DEvIcE FOR EXEIBITING BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed June 26, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 26, 1957 J, BARBER 2,814,390

DEVICE FOR EXHIBITING BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed June 26, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent DEVICE FOR EXHIBITING BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES Jacques Barbier, Laxou, France Application June 26, 1953, Serial No. 364,430

Claims priority, application France January 31, 1953 1 claim. (ci. 2li- 126) v The present invention has for its object to provide a device which is simple in construction, convenient to use, and which allows bags, newspapers, books, or other articles to be exhibited.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for the exhibition of bags and other articles comprising a rack or the like supported at its two ends by two support members that are so adapted that identical devices may be superposed either in a rst position, i. e. spread apart for exhibition, in which the racks are materially separated and are disposed on top of one another, or in a second position, in which the racks are fitted into one another for storage.

Owing to the foregoing features, when the devices are in the rst spread apart position a relatively large number of articles may be exhibited, whereas when the support members are fitted into one another these devices take up very little room.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an embodiment of the device for exhibiting bags and other articles in which the rack is fixed to two transverse frames constituting the support members and forming two inwardly directed dihedrals the apexes of which are situated substantially on a level with the bottom of the rack. The bottom side of each frame is so adapted as to form a grooved ledge or the like open towards the base and disposed vertically below the top side of the frame in question. The portion of the frame corresponding to the upper face of the dihedral is wider than the portion corresponding to the lower face of this dihedral. When several devices are in the spread apart position, each device is adapted to bear by means of the lower grooved ledges of its two support frames, on the top sides of the device placed immediately below, whereas when several devices are fitted into one another or stacked, the lower narrow portions of each support frame of a given device are capable of engaging in the wider upper portions of the devices placed therebelow.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing description. In the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevational View thereof;

Fig. 4 represents in perspective two superposed devices in the spread apart position,

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing two devices fitted one inside the other, and I Figs. 6 and 7 are partial views in perspective of modifications of the bottom side of one of the support frames of the device.

In the illustrated embodiment, the device is composed of a rack R rigidly secured to two end support frames Sl and S2 each one of which constitutes a foot and support member for an identical support placed on top of the support in question in the spread apart position of the devices. This rack R and the support frames S1 and S2 are made up from metal tubes or rods welded together so as to form a rigid unit. Each transverse frame S1 and S2 is substantially vertical, but each of the longitudinally extending sides 1 and 2 are bent at 3, so that it forms an inwardly directed dihedral a1, b1, c1 or a2, b2, c2 (Fig. 3). The two dihedrals have their apexes b1 and b2 directed towards each other.

The top side 4 of each support frame is cranked or bent downwards at 5 adjacent each of its ends and between the two bends is a rectilinear part. The bottom side 6 of each support frame is combined with an auxiliary rod 7 which is welded thereto at its ends at 8 and is bent at three points 9, 10 and 11 adjacent each of these ends; in this way the rod 7 forms with the side 6, when the latter is viewed from the end (Fig. 3), a grooved ledge facing downwards. The median plane of this grooved ledge lies in the vertical plane dldl or d2d2 intersecting the top side 4 of the frame pertaining to the grooved ledge in question. The distance between the two portions between bends 9 and 10 of each rod 7 is slightly less than the distance between the two bends 5 of the top side 4 of the support frame. In each support frame the portion corresponding to the bottom side of the dihedral is narrower than the portion corresponding to the top side.

The rack R, which connects the two support frames, comprises three longitudinal rods, a first or front rod 12, a second or rear rod 13 situated at a slightly lower level than the front rod, and a third or upper rear rod 14. These three rods are connected together in parallel transverse planes (which are also vertical if the device is placed in a horizontal position on a horizontal surface) by rods or bars 15 that are bent into the shape of a J. The bottom sides of these J-shaped rods are parallel to the sides 6 of the support frames, and are situated at a slightly lower level than the rear rod 13. They are connected together in pairs at points intermediate of their bottom sides by longitudinally extending struts 16 fixed thereto.

In addition, there are provided partition members transversely disposed in such manner to suit the size of the articles to exhibit. Each partition member comprises a bent rod 17 having its bend directed upwards relative to its two ends which are fixed to the rods 12 and 13. On the front of the device is provided, fixed to the rods 15 under the rod 12, a small panel 18 which may carry an advertisement or any other information. The ends of this panel, which may be of metal or any other suitable material, are bent round the front vertical portion of two of the J-shaped rods 15 and are secured by eyelets 19. At the rear of the rack R is fixed, at the upper part of some rods 15, a small frame 20.

Referring now to Fig. 4 which represents two devices D1 and D2 in the superposed position, the device D2 rests by means of the lower parts of its two support frames, or more particularly by means of the portions of the two rods 7 comprised between the bends 9 and 10 (see also Figs. 2 and 3), on the top sides 4 of the support frames of the bottom device D1. Each device is in this position capable of receiving between the partitioning members 17 one or several objects, for example bags or small packets P, newspapers, or other articles for exhibition or sale. It will be observed that the longitudinal struts 16 not only hold the rods 1S but also constitute abutments that prevent the bags P from slipping and lying at when the device is nearly empty. The number of struts 16 is not limited to one per division or compartment.

The devices D1 and D2 are perfectly maintained or held together in the vertical direction, due to the fact that the portions between the bends 9 and 10 of the rods 7 of the top device bear upon the sides 4 of the support 3 frames of the bottom device, and, in the longitudinal direction, due to the fact that each of the sides 4 of the bottom device D1 is imprisoned between the bottom side 6 of the support trarne of the top device D2 and the rod 7 of this frame, and, lastly, in the rearward direction, due to the fact that the portions between the bends 9 and 10 of the rods 7 of the device D2 are lodged between the two bends 5 of the sides 4 of the frames of the device D1, the distance between these bends being greater than the distance between the portions comprised between the bends 9 and 10 of the rods 7.

Fig. 5 represents the two devices D1 and D2 in the stored position in which they are fitted one inside the other, In order to tit the two devices together or stack them, it is sufficient to hold the device D2 obliquely relative to the device D1 so as to engage rst the bot tom portion of one of its support frames in the top portion of the adjacent frame of device D1 and then to bring the device D2 back to the horizontal position. Thus each bottom portion of each support frame of the device D2 is engaged in the top portion of the conjugate frame of the bottom device D1 and, owing to the dihedral shape of the support frames, the bottom portion of these frames iit perfectly together, as do their top portions. The extent to which these devices tit together is limited by the abutment of the panel 18 on the base composed of the transverse partition members 17. It will be observed that the struts 16 are disposed between only every other pair of rods so as to allow the passage of the transverse partition members 17 when the devices are stacked or tted together in their stored position.

Although only two devices, D1 and D2, have been represented in Figs. 4 and 5, it is obvious that there is no limit to the number of devices that may be spread apart for exhibition or fitted together for storage.

The devices according to the invention constitute, when they are spread apart, particularly useful displays that exhibit very well the products placed therein, and when they are fitted together or stacked, these devices take up very little space and thereby facilitate their storage. These are particularly desirable features when they are used in the relatively contined areas of shops and windows, or form part of the display equipment of travelling stores, hawkers, etc. The rear frame 20 is intended for positioning and holding an information or publicity panel of cardboard, metal or any other material, this panel being held clipped between the frame 20 and the top part of the rods 15.

The rods 7 may be dispensed with and replaced by simple hooks 21 (Fig. 6) forming a U-shape in a longitudinal plane relative to the rack in combination with suitably bent portions 22 provided on the bottom side 6a.

Alternatively, the side 6b (Fig. 7) of the support frame itself may be bent at each end in such manner as to form two U-shaped portions transversely disposed relative to this side 6b, the open part of the U facing downwards.

The invention is not limited to the details of construction described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which have been given merely by way of example. It is obvious that the size and relative dimensions of the device may vary considerably; for instance, the device mny have any length so as to support side by side any number of articles. The arrangement in height of the device may be as desired and the rods 12, 13 and t5 may have any height relative to the support frames Dl and D2. The device has been shown as open between the various rods, but it is obvious that it may comprise solid or partially solid walls, at least in respect of the rack. The lower portions of the support frames may also be panelled in the upper portions of these support frames being left open so as to allow the support frames to engage when the devices are in their iitted together or stacked position for storage.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A device for exhibiting bags and other articles comprising a horizontal rack, and a pair of transversely cxtending support frames each affixed to one end of said rack, said frames each having a top edge and a bottom edge, said frames each having an outline of two intersecting planes at an angle to one another with the intersection angle inwardly directed and the apex disposed transversely of and substantially level with the bottom of the rack and parallel to the bottom and top edges of said frame, said bottom edge having dependent hook means, said top edges of said frame being lspaced from one another a greater distance than the distance between said bottom edges, said hook means being selectively engageable with the top and the bottom edges of an identical device, whereby a plurality of devices may be selectively stacked or nested.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 579,566 Drenning Mar. 30, 1897 921,694 Hall May 18, 1909 1,386,878 Lamp Aug. 9, 1921 1,645,533 Jarvis Oct. 18, 1927 1,648,025 Molloy Nov. 8, 1927 2,123,837 Thomas etal July l2, 1938 2,184,245 Watral Dec. 19, 1939 2,603,361 James July 15, 1952 2,641,383 Coursey June 9, 1953 

